CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government’s reports, and the appended annexes.

1. The Committee notes with interest the indication that after the amendment of the Labour Act in July 2003, the definitions of both "work of equal value" and "remuneration" were included under section 82 in conformity with Article 1 of the Convention.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that provision 13(1)4 of the Equality of the Sexes Act, which came into force on 30 July 2003, forbids discrimination in pay based on sex.

3. Further to its previous request on statistics, the Committee takes note with interest that in late 2001 the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Gender Equality published the booklet entitled "Women in Croatia in figures" to show the real situation of women in the Republic of Croatia in particular areas, a copy of which has been annexed to the report, and that will be analysed by the Committee after translation.

4. The Committee noted in its comment under the application of Convention No. 111 the adoption in December 2001 of a new National Policy for the Promotion of Equality that includes the programme of implementation of the National Policy for the Promotion of Equality in the Republic of Croatia in the period 2001-05 (No. 112/01). The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the activities carried out in the framework of this policy to ensure the application to all workers of the principle of equal pay between men and women for work of equal value.

5. Further to its previous comment the Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that, according to the Croatian Association of Employers, there are no rules for determining salaries for employers having less than 20 employees, and that in these cases, salaries are determined by a contract or by employment rules. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on whether new section 82 of the Labour Act applies to these employers, and if not, by which manner the Government ensures the application of the principle of equal pay between men and women for work of equal value in enterprises with fewer than 20 employees.

6. The Committee takes note that, according to the Government’s indication, no complaint about discrimination in salaries between women and men has been received. The Committee asks the Government to provide information with its next report on the activities of the inspection service to enforce the application of section 82 of the Labour Act, including awareness raising and counselling as well as the complaint-based activities.